Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-27
HOW JUR1ES ARE SELECTED.
The Commission that makes out thu
Ltst-fhe Length Of the Term O.
Service.


The selection OF names OF citizens for fury duty
was formerly performed by commission COM
posed OF the register OF Washington City,
the clerk OF Georgetown and the clerk Of
the Levy Court or the county, under the
act OF June 10, 1880, and the proportion was 400
from Washington, 30 from Georgetown and 40
from the county. This proportion was made
changeable after the year 1863, according to the
Increase or decrease Of the population Of the
respective districts, by order Of the judge Of the
Circuit Court. The Officials named were annually
required to make on or before the 1st OF February
a list OF such white male citizens as they should
judge best qualified to serve as Jurors The exemp-
ions were the mayors Of the two cities all
judicial officers, Salared officers OF the govern
with the police, lawyers, ministers, practicing
physicians and surgeons, keepers or hosDitalS
asyluIns, allnshOuses or other charitable institu.
tfOnS, captains and masters employed on vessels,
and keepers OF public ferries. The law provided
that the names should be written on separate
pieces OF paper, and placed IN the box, and that
tile number Of names required for the juries be
drawn by the clerk OF the court ut least ten da
before each term, the officers above named being
present II also provided That the names 50
years
THE PRESENT Law.
The old corporations having been superseded by
the Territorial government, Congress by the act
Of April 20, 1877, directed that unless otherwise
Officers or persons TO make the list were 10 be des-
ignated by the court In General Term, and the
names for the jurybox were TO be selected in pro-
portion TO the population OF wards or districts Of
the cities and the three divisions Of the county.
Under this act the Court in General Term has aD-
pointed commissioners, the lists have been pre-.
pared from time 10 time by q board, and the draw
lngs have taken pace regularly since then, and
the integrity OF the drawing has not been attacked
but once to the present time. Some years ago Mr.
Cook challenged the array Of o grand Jury w
drawn, ana proved that the commissioners mad an
pOrti0ned the work among themselves, each A.
Letting the names for his respective district.
the selection should be the joint act OF the com.
missioners; that they were as y body to Canvass
and select the names and prepare the ballots. The
Jaw Ia tu-uay u, IL is stated aUOve with the exean
1J ground OF principal challenge to have serveSt
on jury within one year.
THR QUESTION or sHoRrEH TRkxs
Recently the destrability OF shortening the term
Of services OF jurors has been urged
by business men who have been inconven-
fenced BY having to give three months at
time to Jury duty: The length OF the
the requisite number to go on with the business
OF the courts for some days AFTER the opening or
the term. The tuages, especially those who have
recently come on the bench, have remarked that
tney mad never seen u Jurisdiction where the ex-
cuSeS are 50 general and II not infreQuently hap
pens that OF the twsnty-three summoned Tor the
grand ana the twenty-slx for the petit juries
over One-half present excused especially those ia
business. Judge Hagner has an axiom that the
Tact OF man naSinE business especially Qualities
him as o juror, which, while IL pleaSes the Juror
Is seldoA so much appreciated by the business
man as 10 prevent him from asking exemption.
., The eominents made about the court house a.
70 the suggestion OF shorter terms are varied
Some think that II business men when summoned
would promptly respond aud say 70 the court: III
regard It my duty to serve, the court would ar.
range the length OF service 70 suit them.